Buttonhole-making guide



p 10, 1929' w. K. JOHNSON 1,727,776

BUTTONHOLE MAKING GUIDE Filed July ll 1927 lit patented Sept. 10, 1 929 UNITED STAT ES WILLIAM K. JOHNSON, or'wIc'HrrA, rmivsinsg ASSIGNOR,' BY mnsnnkAssrenmnnrs;

1 0 THE BURBROOK CO PAN nooiaronArron OF MASSACHUSETTS.

BUTTONHOLE-MAKING U DE.

Application filed my 11,, 1927. Serial No. 204,754.

This invention relates to the art of buttonhole 'making and particularly to means whereby a button-hole can bemade by the usual sewing machine, equipped with the ordinary sewing machine needle. Various devices adapted to be attached to sewing machines, whereby the machine may be used to make button-holes, have been produced in the past, but so far as I am aware these have all involved complicated and relatively expensive mechanisms. In the present case I provide a simple 'articleada'pted to be used in combination with a sewing machine and which involvesa minimum of parts and is extremely economical to manufacture.

My button-hole working guide may be used with any standard type of sewingmachine and may be provided in graded sizes so that button-holes can be produced in any desired size or kind. i

In the specification I have described and in the drawings illustrated an embodiment of my invention which, I have found satisfactory in practical use. 1

Throughout the specification and drawings like reference numerals are employed to indicate corresponding parts and in the drawings: v t I Fig. 1 is a general perspective showing my button-hole guidein place and in use with a sewing machine. t

Figure 2 is an inside plan View of'the lower plate of my button-hole guide.

Fig. 3 is a view of the upper plate of my button-hole guide showing the guidegroove which determines the size of thebutton-hole.

Fig. his a view of the guiding piece adapted to be attached to the presser foot 0st. l y

p Fig.- 5 is a section on the line .5 5, Fig. 3,and

I Fig. 6 is a plan partly in section showing a pieceoi materialin which a button-hole .is in process of being worked. I t I In the drawings Ifhave shown at 1 the operating end'of'a sewing machine of usual construction. This includes apresserffoot 30st 2, andthe usual needle receiving and holding device 3 in whichLIf have shown held the usual needle 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, the presser foot has been removed from the presser foot post2 and the presser' foot post cleared from all obstructions. On. the presser foot post 2, in the place usually occupied by the presser foot, (Fig. 1) I show clampedithe piece 5 whichhas a tapered point .5 as shown in Fig; 4. This piece 5 is constructed from sheet; metal and is provided with flanges 5 adapted to engage the presser foot post 2.

The plate 6 is theguide that regulates the size of the buttonehole. It is slotted at 6f and is provided with an integral grooved guide 7 having a knifeelike edge 7. It will be noted that the knife-like edge 7 of this grooved guide 7 is placed just half-way across the slot 6 sothat the button-hole will be un'iform 'in width throughout- This knife-like edge, 7 is theline which separates the two rows of stitching and theta pered point 5 is maintained throughout the button-hole makingoperation in a fixed posit-ion theplates and contained material being moved with relationthereto. I

, Belowthe slot 6 in theplate 6 is a second slot 6 in which the button-hole'is actually .worked as the. plate 6 isfmoved back and forth in a criss cross motion during the travel of the needle 4 to produce a' buttonhole stitchefi'ect. j v I The piece 8'is a framework having gupturned edges into which the plate6 fits, the material M to be worked upon being placed between the plates G and 8 with the plate 6 on top and forced firmly down into the plate 8. The plate 8 is provided with a pair ofslots 8 and 8, which correspond; to the slots 6 and 6 ,01? the plate 6. The groove guide 7 protrudes through .theslot 8'; and

the machine needle 4, operatesthrough the slot .8 as it works the button-hole, according as the guide 7 is directed about the piece 5' attached tothe presser foot post 2. "In order to secure a tight fit of the parts, I have caused the end members 9 of the plate 8 to vbe formed asa bead, which permits the guide to be used with varying thicknesses jandgweightsfof material. 1 c Inoperatio'n attachment is utilizedas lows? I place the plate 8 in the position shown in Fig. 2 and spread across the same a double fold of the material M in which the buttonhole is to be worked. Plate 6, which guides the button-hole making operation is fitted into the plate 8 over the material M with its knife-like edge 7 upturned.

. By this means the material is held tightly'withinthe framework. I now slide the plates and enclosed material under the machine needle 3 as shown in Fig. l. NextI lower the presser foot post 2 and clamp the tapered guide 5 on to the side of the presser foot facing the operator so that the tapered point 5 rests in the groove guide Care should be taken thatthere is sufiicient space leftbetween thebottom of the tapered guide 5 and the grooveguide 7 so that the point,

5' may move back'and forth therein without contact;

an I V V v{Vith the tapered point 5' in position in the groove guide 7, the operative starts the sewing machine andwith her hands moves.

the tightly engaged plates 6 and 8 and the L enclosed material'M back and forth in criss movement the entire width of the slot 6' is necessary toreinforce the ends'of the buttonhol'e. Several such long stitches are, desirable." A little practice in moving the joined plates (i-and 8- alternately to and fro with each thrust of the sewing machin'e needle as faras the tapered guide '5' and the walls of Q the slot 6 and guide groove 7 will permit,

makes it possible to very quickly produce a finished button-hole of uniform' width and thickness. By the use of my guide all button-holes are necessarily produced of the same length,width and thickness.

- lVhen any single button-hole is finished button-hole edge.

the plates 6 and 8 may quickly be separated andthe material M removed by a slight pulling action on any one of the four sides of the material, which may be again positioned in the frame for the production of other buttonholes as desired'.= The finished button-hole may be out between the rowsof stitching with anyjsharp instrument, the knife-like edge 7 causing a clear space 10to extend betweenltherows' of stitching 11 and 12 and on which line 10 the material may be out without any injury to the stitching of the Plates of varying sizes may be furnished (Figs. 1 and by which it will be possible to make buttonholes of any desired size.

My device is very simple of construction and extremely economical to manufacture. It is endurable and capable of unlimited use. Therefore the necessary investment to the machine operator or owner is slight as compared with that of the usualbut-tomhole attachment heretofore used. Results areextremely satisfactory, an experienced operator being able tov produce extremely fine and finished work.

9' Various modifications 1n the form and construction of my device may obviously be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention if within thelimits of the appended claims.

'flVhat I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1'. The combination with asewingmachine having a presser foot post and a needle, of holdingfland guiding means for material inwhich'buttonholes are to be worked,said means comprising a pair of slotted' plates, one of which is a framework having upturned edges upon which rests the material to be worked firmly held in place therein by saidother plate, said plates being provided with corresponding slots through which said button-hole is guided and worked, said upprplate having a member adapted tojdefi'ne the'dividing line between two rows of button-hole stitching, a guiding member having its tapered edge disposed in said guiding slot and being fastened at its other endto thep'resser foot post ofsaid sewing machineysaid cloth-holding and guiding meansbeing movablerelative to saidtapered piece within the area defined by said stitchdefining member on one side and the, walls of saidslot on the other side, whereby to control the arrangement of the stitches of said sewing machine needle through said other 'slotwith relation to the cloth being H 2.,The combination with a sewingrnachine having a presser footpost and a needle, ofjholding' and guiding means for material in which .buttonholes are to .be

worked, said means comprising a pair. of slotted plates one of which is a framework having upturned edges upon which rests the material to be worked firmly held in place therein by said other plate, said plates being I provided'with corresponding slots through which said button-hole is guided and worked, said upper plate having a member extending into one of said slots and adapted to define the dividing line between two rows of buttonhole stitching and'inte grally connected to the body of said plate, a tapered guiding member having its lower edge disposed in' said guiding slot and beingfastened at'its other end tothe presser foot post of said sewing machine, said clothholding and guiding means being movable relative to said tapered piece Within the area defined by said stitch-defining member on one side and the walls of said slot on the other side, whereby to control the arrangement of the stitches of said sewing machine needle through said other slot with relation to the cloth being worked upon.

3. A button-hole making attachment for a sewing machine, comprising a pair of plates adapted to hold material to be worked upon, the bottom plate having end members formed as beads which permit materials of varying thicknesses and weights to be held in place by said upper plate, registering slots in said plates through which the button-hole is stitched and slots through which the making of said button-holes is guided, a tapered guide member adapted to have its tapered end lie within said guiding slot and having its other end adapted to be attached directly to the presser foot post of a sewing machine, said plates and contained material adapted to be moved about said machineafiixed member, whereby to control the arrangement of the stitches of said sewing machine needle with relation to the cloth being worked upon.

4. A button-hole making attachment for a sewing machine, comprising a pair of plates adapted to hold material to be Worked upon. the bottom plate having end members formed as beads which permit materials of varying thicknesses and weights to be held in place by said upper plate, registering slots in said plates through which the button-hole is stitched and slots through which the making of said button-hole is guided, a tapered guide member adapted to have its lower end lie within said guiding slot and having its other end adapted to be attached directly to the presser foot post of a sewing machine, a grooved member integrally joined to said top plate and extending into said guide slot on either side of which said guide member is moved to determine the contour of said button-hole, said plates and contained material adapted to be moved about said machineaflixed member, whereby to control the ar ran-gement of the stitches of said sewing machine needle with relation to the cloth being worked upon.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' WILLIAM K. JOHNSON. 

